Yesterday I picked up a new BlackBerry 9700 specifically with the intention to utilize it for work. I’ve been requested to have some contact while away from the office and I figured that instead of having to incur the extra costs of long distance charges like I had in my previous position, that I would set myself up with a BlackBerry and get the features that I need to be more available to my customers. My iPhone worked well, but in my new position, I’ll need to be more available to wider range of customers across Canada, as well as I can redirect my work emails to my BlackBerry, which will enable me to monitor progress while away from the office.

On this note, I might as well do a mini review of the hardware itself. I managed to pick up the latest BB Bold (9700) which utilizes a track pad versus a track ball for $50. How I managed to do this is my little secret, but I have to admit that having it for the last 24 hours has been refreshing. I still love my iPhone, but lately it has been disappointing me in a number of different areas. It’s getting slow, and the battery is just not performing to spec anymore. I could refresh the device by wiping it clean and loading everything back on, but I have 7 pages of apps that I utilize on a weekly basis. And trying to recover some of the passwords for some apps would be pain staking. Eventually I will do it, just not at this moment in time.

Overall though here is what I like about my BB;
1) the nice bright and sharp screen
2) overall look and feel of the device
3) its very fast
4) it does a few simple things and it does it really well

I can’t get rid of my iPhone, but if the 9700 had come out during the time that I was looking at getting the iPhone, I would have most likely had a lot more to think about before purchasing it. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with both devices, and with the performance of both devices. I will have to run it through its paces in order to determine how well I like it, but I don’t have any doubts that it will live up to my expectations.